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垄断 (lǒng duàn) — to monopolize

Definition

To monopolize a market or industry (the standard term in economic and legal contexts). 霸占 is forcible physical occupation (land, a seat); 揽 means to take on a task or seize credit, not market control.

verb
to monopolize

Examples

  • 垄断。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī shì tú lǒng duàn zhěng gè háng yè.
    This company is trying to monopolize the entire industry.
  • 垄断。
    Tā men tōng guò jì shù yōu shì lǒng duàn le shì chǎng.
    They monopolized the market through their technological advantages.
  • 垄断。
    Zhèng fǔ jìn zhǐ qǐ yè lǒng duàn jià gé.
    The government prohibits companies from monopolizing prices.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

垄lǒngmound
断duàncontrol

The image is 垄 as a high mound and 断 as controlling trade from it, hence to monopolize.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壟; 垄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
龍
龍lóng壟
Same sound today

The traditional form 壟 combines 土, earth, with 龍 for the sound; the simplified 垄 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Business & CommerceEconomy & Trade

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